🇨🇳 Chinese whispers, Mexican silence

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Chinese lobbying scandal hits Chile’s ruling coalition

Concerns over Chinese influence have triggered political upheaval in Chile, culminating in the removal of Karol Cariola from her post as speaker of the lower house of Congress. Cariola, a prominent Communist Party lawmaker, is under investigation for allegedly violating anti-lobbying laws by soliciting political favors on behalf of Chinese business interests.

Accusations. The probe stemmed from a previous investigation against former Santiago Mayor Irací Hassler, also a member of Chile’s Communist Party. Chat logs from Hassler’s phone showed Cariola trying to set up meetings between the mayor and a “businessman who helped in [Cariola’s] campaigns.”

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